To be frank, this is real provolone. Deli provolone never sees the love and attention that Luigi Guffanti shows his cheese. Aged for two to three years, each 44 lb mandarone ("large tangerine," referring to the cannonball shape) of cheese is carefully inspected, brushed, and graded until it meets the high standards that the Guffanti family has been ensuring since 1876. With that in mind, don't treat this like deli provolone. Shave it thin, serve it at room temperature, and break out a good bottle of red wine. Some nice prosciutto and salami wouldn't be a bad idea, either. If you've been looking for a real, sharp provolone, this is your cheese.

When great-grandfather Luigi Guffanti, in 1876, began to age Gorgonzola cheese, his brilliant intuition was to purchase an abandoned silver mine in Valganna, in the Varese province. In the mine, with its temperature and humidity constant year-round, the cheese matured so well that Luigi quickly cornered the markets: his sons, Carlo and Mario, at the beginning of the 1900's, exported as far as Argentina and California, lands of Piedmont and Lombard emigration. Maximum attention to the handcrafted quality of the cheeses and passionate care taken in the refinement process mark the proud Guffanti-Fiori family tradition that has been handed down for five generations.

Made from unpasteurized cow's milk.

Photo depicts 6 pound wedge of cheese cut from the 44 lb whole form of cheese.

It's like being in Italy when I take a bite of this cheese. There is nothing else like it.

By mellofrom Sterling MAon Oct 09, 2013

yes, nice bite!

this was excellent!

By Johnfrom Atlantic Beach Flon Sep 09, 2013

very please with cheese and service

Very please with igourmet. They had a question about my shipping and an actual live person contacted me. The cheeses were excellent.

By Laura Lordifrom St. Albans, VTon Sep 04, 2013

Superb

My sincere thanks to igourmet and the Guffanti-Fiori family for this taste of Italy that I had been looking for for years! It was a gift for my Father, and we both devoured it! I will now buy some for just me, and then will send my Dad some for just him! Exellent...Buy it!

By MIKEfrom nyon May 13, 2012

JUST THE BEST PROVOLONE

AS I SAID LAST TIME I RATED THIS CHEESE,FANTASTIC,SHARP AND FULL OF FLAVOR.IF YOU LIKE PROVOLONE,THEN TRY THIS,YOU WON'T BE SORRY.
ANOTHER KEEPER

By mikefrom new york,nyon Apr 27, 2012

real provolone

my favorite provolone and i love provolone.
i favor this cheese over any other provolones because of the intense sharpness and flavor.
this is the real thing , just like living on a farm in italy.

By Imwalkinmfrom Birmingham, ALon Jan 27, 2012

Great cheese

if you like your provolone aged and very sharp, this is the cheese for you!